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Leinster Get Set For Semi-Final Showdown

The Leinster squad trained at the RDS this afternoon ahead of their Heineken Cup semi-final clash with Clermont Auvergne at the Stade Chaban-Delmas next Sunday.

Following their league derby victory over Ulster, there are no fresh injury concerns for Leinster as they step up their preparations for the crunch semi-final in Bordeaux.

The province's newly-crowned Players Player of the Year Rob Kearney made his 117th Leinster appearance last Friday - 41 of which have been in the Heineken Cup - and the full-back has scored an impressive six tries in seven European ties so far this season.

Gordon D'Arcy, Jamie Heaslip and Isa Nacewa, who were all rested at the weekend, will rejoin the squad having featured in the previous weekend's bonus point victory over fellow Heineken Cup semi-finalists Edinburgh.

Eoin O'Malley's calf injury, which ruled him out of contention for the Ulster game, will be further assessed by the medical team. He has not been ruled out of contention ahead of the team announcement on Friday.

Next Sunday's match will be Leinster's seventh European semi final and centre Brian O'Driscoll now lies just a single try behind Vincent Clerc's record of 32 tries in the competition.

Captain Leo Cullen's next appearance will be his 80th in the Heineken Cup, including the dozen games he played for Leicester Tigers during his spell there.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Leinster will be wearing their blue home strip when they battle it out with Clermont Auvergne for a place in the final.

The Official Leinster Supporters Club (OLSC), in association with Bank of Ireland, have published an away guide for supporters travelling to the south of France next weekend which can be downloaded from www.leinsterrugby.ie this week.

The OLSC are also urging Leinster fans to send their 'good luck' messages to the squad by emailing olsc@leinsterrugby.ie.